First-Rounders Clash In Highway 99 Series

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA. - It was a battle of first-round picks as Sacramento's Chris Stratton and Fresno's Mark Appel went head-to-head in the first of five games between the division rivals. Stratton was unable to continue his stretch of dominant starts and the River Cats' offense went quiet against Appel as the Grizzlies took the opener 4-1.

Stratton, a first round pick (20th overall) for the San Francisco Giants in 2012, entered the game having gone eight innings in each of his last two starts. The right-hander had allowed just one run over that time while striking out 10, but was unable to roll against the visiting Grizzlies. Stratton (0-2, 2.23) allowed 4 runs on 7 hits and a walk while striking out 5 Wednesday night as he took his second loss since joining the River Cats.

2015 is Stratton's first season at the Triple-A level, and, despite tonight, the 24-year-old is off to a spectacular start. Through 41.5 innings of work, Stratton has posted a 2.23 ERA and a 23:14 K:BB ratio. The offense has been unable to back him up, however, and Stratton is still searching for his first River Cats win.

Appel was drafted in the first round (1st overall) by the Houston Astros in 2013 and made just his third Triple-A start Wednesday night against the River Cats. The 23-year-old right-hander held Sacramento scoreless and scattered six hits across 6.2 innings of work. He walked 2 and struck out 4 on his way to his first career Triple-A win while lowering his ERA from 10.38 to 5.87.

Fresno did all of their scoring early, tagging Stratton for all four of their runs through the first three innings. Domingo Santana helped set the table, going 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Local product Andrew Aplin was 2-for-4 for the Grizzlies, driving in his 11th run of the season. The center-fielder made a spectacular diving catch to rob Adam Duvall of a hit in the sixth inning.

The River Cats got on the board in the bottom of the ninth, scoring their only run on a Kelby Tomlinson RBI-single. Xavier Avery worked a two-out walk before advancing to second on defensive indifference. The speedy outfielder scored two pitches later as Tomlinson singled up the middle of Fresno reliever Jordan Jankowski.

Avery was 2-for-4 with a walk and continues to get on base. He is now hitting .364 with a .462 OBP since joining the River Cats.

Game two will get underway tomorrow night as right-hander Clayton Blackburn (3-3, 4.17) takes the mound. Blackburn has faced Fresno twice this season, both times in relief, striking out 7 in 5.2 innings of work. Opposing him will be Fresno's right-hander Asher Wojciechowski (5-1, 4.32). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

***

The Sacramento River Cats are the Triple-A affiliate of the 2014 World Champion San Francisco Giants. The team plays at Raley Field in West Sacramento, consistently voted one of the top ballparks in America. River Cats Season Tickets, Mini-Plans, and Flex Plans can be purchased for the 2015 season by calling the River Cats Ticket Hotline at (916) 371-HITS (4487). For more information about the River Cats, visit www.rivercats.com. For information on other events at Raley Field, visit www.raleyfield.com.